Joy Behar, currently a co-host of ABC's The View, is among today's leading comic talents. Whether performing standup comedy or interviewing politicians and artists, she is a comedic original and a leading woman on stage and screen. Behar earned an M.A. in English education and originally began a career in teaching. She then set out to pursue comedy professionally, and immediately received bookings from famous New York clubs, such as Caroline's and Catch a Rising Star. Ms. Behar went on to win three MAC awards and a CableACE Award. On television, she starred in her own HBO special and was a regular on the series, Baby Boom. Other appearances include the voice of a hilariously neurotic patient on Dr. Katz, which won the CableACE Award. She has been a frequent member of the panel of the critically acclaimed Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Hollywood Squares, Larry King Live, ABC's Spin City, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Late Show With David Letterman, the celebrity edition of ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Live With Regis, Charlie Rose and Bette. She hosted a popular call-in radio show on WABC for three years, where she discussed politics with a deadly humorous bent. She has also appeared in such films as Cookie with Peter Falk, This Is My Life directed by Nora Ephron and Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery. In theater, Ms. Behar had a successful run in the off-Broadway hit, The Food Chain, where she earned rave reviews in the starring role; and a successful run in the critically-acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues. Ms. Behar is a frequent comedy headliner and most recently appeared in "The Marshall's Women In Comedy Festival" at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. In January, 2001 Ms. Behar was chosen by TV Guide as a "Personality of the Year" nominee for the 3rd annual TV Guide Awards. In May, 2001 Ms. Behar and her fellow co-hosts were awarded the Safe Horizon Champion Award for their continued efforts of raising awareness of issues of importance to girls and women and for serving as confident, compassionate role models dedicated to excellence of the battle against violence and victimization. She is also the recipient of the Gracie Allen Tribute Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (2000) and the New York City Public Advocate's Special Advocate Award for her outstanding friendship to the Gay community (2000). Her first book, titled Joy Shtick: or What Is the Existential Vacuum and Does It Come with Attachments?, was published.
Joy Behar